The U.S. naval research laboratory has developed a new type of small light sensors, this sensor by vertical arranged on the porous electrode is composed of silicon nanowires (SiN - VAPOR), can improve the improvised explosive devices (ieds) in the detection ability.

SiN - VAPOR project aims to develop battlefield to deploy distributed sensor can be installed on the phone. Its three-dimensional structure, composed of vertical arrangement of the silicon nanowires, chemical detection can be integrated to mobile phones. Naval research laboratory researchers hope to promote this kind of low power consumption, low price of the sensor, and revolutionary to improve the battlefield or airport to trace chemicals in the environment, such as detection means.

Is still in the early stage of development of SiN - VAPOR the sensitivity of the sensor for detecting trace chemical has reached one over one billion or even one over one trillion. The project, the technology will service in the battlefield soldiers and consumers as soon as possible. At present, the naval laboratory researchers are looking for ways to maximize SiN - VAPOR surface area, in order to improve the sensitivity of the sensor. In addition, SiN - VAPOR sensors can also help bomb-sniffing dogs for suspicious objects detection, improve the security of the airport.